The United National Party today stated that it was surprised by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake extending personal congratulations to newly elected Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.

In a statement, the UNP said that according to diplomatic protocol, congratulatory messages from a Head of State are generally reserved for other Heads of State rather than provincial or state-level leaders of foreign countries.

The party also questioned why President Dissanayake had not issued similar congratulatory messages to newly elected West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari or Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.